UEFA Champions League preview: Istanbul Basaksehir vs PSG

Thomas Tuchel Kylian Mbappe can start against RB Leipzig

Istanbul Basaksehir will host French Champions PSG in the matchday 2 of Champions League.

Stadium: Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadium

Key Statistics

  • This will be the first-ever competitive fixture between the two clubs
  • PSG are unbeaten in their last five Premier League away games and have a strong track record against Turkish opponents, not losing any of their last five encounters.

Istanbul Basaksehir

Istanbul Basaksehir saw themselves at the receiving end after the 2-0 defeat to Leipzig in the matchday 1. The defending Super Lig Champions are having a substandard season at the moment, currently 11th in the table after suffering four defeats. However, their victory against Trabzonspor last week could have handed them a little confidence going into the UCL fixture against PSG.

Possible line-up

Gunok; Rafael, Ponck, Epureanu, Bolingoli; Visca, Kahveci, Topal, Giuliano; Ba, Crivelli

Injured players

Nacer Chadli, Martin Skrtel, Rafael Ugur Ucar, Junior Caicara 

Paris Saint-Germain

PSG lost their opening game of the Champions League against Manchester United at Parc des Princes, not the kind of start the runners up the previous edition of UCL would have hoped for. They have a greater chance to get off the mark against the Turkish club. Les Parisiens’ form in Ligue 1 has been intact as they are currently first in the table after eight games. Moise Kean impressed in the win against Dijon, scoring his first brace for PSG.

Possible line-up

Navas; Florenzi, Diallo, Kimpembe, Kurzawa; Marquinhos, Herrera, Rafinha; Di Maria, Mbappe, Neymar

Injured players

Thilo Kehrer, Juan Bernat, Idrissa Guyeye, Leo Paredes, Marco Verratti, Mauro Icardi

“It’s not the first time we’ve lost the first match of the group stage. We know how to react. The matches are linked quickly and we will try to win Istanbul to honor this jersey and the club.” “All matches are important, but when you play every two or three days it is still difficult, even if you are the biggest competitor.”

Kylian Mbappe, PSG forward